Paul passed away at home peacefully on June 9th, 2024, in the presence of his family after a courageous two-and-a-half-year battle with brain cancer.
Paul was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and was the oldest son of the late Jane (nee Merwin) and late Paul Ellsworth’s seven children.
Loving husband of Patsy (nee Friend) of 50 years and Father of Ephraim (Sohee) Ellsworth, Oliver (Jennifer) Ellsworth and Clifford (Lori) Ellsworth and beloved “Big P” to five grandchildren: Tessa Ellsworth, Patrice Ellsworth, Clara Ellsworth, Harris Ellsworth and Vivien Ellsworth.
Oldest brother of Mary Busby, John Ellsworth (Maria), Jamie Ellsworth (Patti), Matt Ellsworth (Tracy) and Tim Ellsworth (Kristin). Pre-deceased by brother Peter Ellsworth. He also leaves behind cousins and many nieces and nephews.
Paul attended Nicolet High School and was an accomplished athlete in football, basketball and track.
He started and was the lead singer for a band in high school called “Big P and the Pods,” which won the Battle of the Bands at Nicolet High School. Though the band wasn’t successful in the true sense of the word, he attributed his sales skills to learning how to get “gigs” for the band.
He graduated from Nicolet High School in 1965 and attended UW-Parkside and UW-Madison.
Paul’s nickname was Sandy, for the color of his hair, and many of his family and friends still call him that to this day. His other nickname was “Big P”, as many family members and close friends referred to him. When asked what he wanted his grandchildren to call him, he didn’t hesitate to say “Big P”.
During the first year of his marriage to Patsy, Paul continued to play music with his band in southwest Wisconsin bars. After one year, he decided he had had enough and needed to make a living. He began working under the mentorship of his father, an independent manufacturer’s representative, in his parents’ basement. His father Paul Sr. found a line of adhesives for him to sell, and that was all it took. He set up an office in his parents’ basement, and Patsy joined him after he made a few sales. He then began to build his successful business under the name of Ellsworth Adhesives. He had found his calling and loved nothing more than closing a sale.
He bought his father out after one year, and he and Patsy worked as equal partners from that point forward. His vision was to become a nation-wide distributor of industrial adhesives and later to become the largest global distributor of industrial adhesives, which he accomplished.
An entrepreneur in every sense of the word, Paul built his business over 50 years and employed hundreds of people globally, improving the lives of countless families. He wanted to leave a legacy for his children and grandchildren and had the desire for his business to go on for as long as possible after he was gone. He was very humble about his success as a businessman and often refused interviews or being in the limelight.
Paul was passionate about nature, and he found solace hiking on the shores of Lake Michigan, where he grew up, and around his Mequon property, which he continued to enhance by building more ponds and planting more and more trees. This was his refuge and sanctuary. He was an avid fisherman and loved going fishing with Patsy and his sons, grandkids and friends.
He spent many years coaching his sons in baseball, basketball and soccer and co-created the first U-8 competitive soccer team for Mequon United. He loved coaching kids and was passionate about winning.
When Paul became 40 years of age, golf became another one of his passions. His grandfather shot a score of 74 at 74 years of age, and Paul always dreamed about doing the same. In 2020, Paul shot a 74 shortly after he turned 74 and was extremely proud of this accomplishment.
Paul loved Patsy, his wife of 50 years and business partner, and his three sons and five grandchildren, who were the light of his life. He will also be lovingly remembered by many nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. He will be sorely missed by the many people whose lives he touched.
Paul’s family would like to thank Mayo Clinic and Froedtert Hospital for their exceptional care. We would also like to thank Dr. Jennifer Connolly and her staff for their superior medical care as well as the wonderful caregivers at The Key, especially Kaneesha, Christal, Deb and Joy, who all helped bring him peace at the end.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, July 28 at 3:00 PM at Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts, 19805 W. Capitol Drive (Mitchell Park), Brookfield, WI 53045. Reception to follow immediately afterward. Please RSVP at: https://www.remember.lightenarrangements.com/celebrationof/life/paul-ellsworth
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Medical College of Wisconsin, Brain Tumor Research Program/MCW Neurology, online at https://mcwsupport.mcw.edu/braintumorresearch or by mail, c/o Dr. Jennifer Connelly, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, to the Plant a Tree Foundation, www.plantmemorialtree.com or to the Trust for Public Land, www.tpl.org/donate
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